Buddy 125 sounds like it's running hard

invalidryan · Post by **invalidryan** » Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:06 pm

I bought a used 2009 Buddy 125 with 174 miles on it. I've changed both oils and have gone through a tank of gas with 1 oz of seafoam in it.

Now I'm at 300 miles, brought it up to 50mph and ever since it's sounded like it's running hard especially on any acceleration but you can hear it softly on idle after a ride. Best described as a loud fan or soft grinding noise.

Any suggestions? Thank you!!

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:04 pm

I'd check the transmission and the air filter.

Is it sputtering at all or idling consistently (just noisily)?

Does the noise get louder or change if you apply throttle?

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:41 am

Buddy 125 sounds like it's running hard

If it lasts more than 4 hours, it should consult a doctor.

kmrcstintn · Post by **kmrcstintn** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:55 am

I know mine gets really, really loud when my throttle is 3/4 open to WOT...just seems to be the way it is; first noticed it when I hit 1000+ miles; currently have 2600+ miles

invalidryan · Post by **invalidryan** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:08 pm

Thanks for the thoughts!
Air Filter is clean. The sound increases when I throttle.
It doesn't have a consistant idle, it'll almost die after a minute or so but that seems to get better the more I run it.

As for the sounds, there is a cranking sound behind the gear box and a tapping sound somewhere around the flywheel magneto.

I may just be breaking it in and it's all normal. I guess if you have any suggestions on what to watch out for, that'd be great!

cheers

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:30 pm

At 174 miles, I hope you were sure to use the correct break-in oil. If not, drain what is in there and be sure to use the correct oil. Do not ride it until you do this. Also follow other proper break in procedures.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:03 pm

The idle changing is natural; it has an auto-choke which lowers the RPMs when the scooter warms up.

Clanking behind the gear box… hmmm… If the scooter was sitting for a long time, it could be that there's dust, dirt or some kind of other debris in the clutch. Kind of a longshot. Even less likely that anything would get into the rear hub.

Also, those issues would have been audible when you got the scooter,. not just after 300 miles…

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:44 pm

Skootz Kabootz wrote:At 174 miles, I hope you were sure to use the correct break-in oil. If not, drain what is in there and be sure to use the correct oil. Do not ride it until you do this. Also follow other proper break in procedures.

I would not think draining and replacing the recently changed oil is necessary. The original Genuine recommendation was first oil change at 200 miles (though most riders prefer to wait until 400-500 miles). Changing to a synthetic blend or a synthetic oil at 174 miles (or whenever after that the OP changed his oil) is unlikely to have any effect on the break-in process.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:46 pm

Dooglas wrote:
Skootz Kabootz wrote:At 174 miles, I hope you were sure to use the correct break-in oil. If not, drain what is in there and be sure to use the correct oil. Do not ride it until you do this. Also follow other proper break in procedures.
I would not think draining and replacing the recently changed oil is necessary. The original Genuine recommendation was first oil change at 200 miles (though most riders prefer to wait until 400-500 miles). Changing to a synthetic blend or a synthetic oil at 174 miles (or whenever after that the OP changed his oil) is unlikely to have any effect on the break-in process.

Good to know.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:55 pm

Dooglas wrote:
Skootz Kabootz wrote:At 174 miles, I hope you were sure to use the correct break-in oil. If not, drain what is in there and be sure to use the correct oil. Do not ride it until you do this. Also follow other proper break in procedures.
I would not think draining and replacing the recently changed oil is necessary. The original Genuine recommendation was first oil change at 200 miles (though most riders prefer to wait until 400-500 miles). Changing to a synthetic blend or a synthetic oil at 174 miles (or whenever after that the OP changed his oil) is unlikely to have any effect on the break-in process.

Certainly nothing that would cause odd noises.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:05 am

ericalm wrote:
Dooglas wrote:
Skootz Kabootz wrote:At 174 miles, I hope you were sure to use the correct break-in oil. If not, drain what is in there and be sure to use the correct oil. Do not ride it until you do this. Also follow other proper break in procedures.
I would not think draining and replacing the recently changed oil is necessary. The original Genuine recommendation was first oil change at 200 miles (though most riders prefer to wait until 400-500 miles). Changing to a synthetic blend or a synthetic oil at 174 miles (or whenever after that the OP changed his oil) is unlikely to have any effect on the break-in process.
Certainly nothing that would cause odd noises.

No, not noises. Just not good to change break in oil prematurely.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:06 am

Have you checked the exhaust, bolts and heat shield? They can clank.

invalidryan · Post by **invalidryan** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:07 am

Update: Today when I was holding the throttle steady around 50mph, the throttle cut out and in dramatically until it cut out completely and died on the side of the road.
This happened twice (except the second time it didn't die and then ran normally).

I took it into a dealer. They test drove it quite a bit and said that most likely it had bad gas in it and deposits that got loosened up, caught, and loosened up again.

They listened closely to it, suggested more seafoam and gave it the all clear.

Tomorrow I'll give it a another good run, hopefully it got it all out of its system.

Thanks!

phatch · Post by **phatch** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:45 am

invalidryan wrote:Update: Today when I was holding the throttle steady around 50mph, the throttle cut out and in dramatically until it cut out completely and died on the side of the road.
This happened twice (except the second time it didn't die and then ran normally).

Uh Oh, you've heard of the Buddy Vapor/Vacuum Lock®, right? Next time this happens, pop open your gas tank, start it, and give the throttle a twist.

Regarding the noise, make a recording and post it up on YouTube so we can hear it.